Missing a college application deadline can cost you a full year. Whether you're applying to a state school, a top private university, or an Ivy League — knowing your deadlines in advance is the first step to getting in.
This page lists application deadlines for hundreds of US colleges and universities, updated for the 2026–2027 admissions cycle. Use the filters below to search by state or discipline and find deadlines that match your situation.
Always verify deadlines on each college's official website before submitting your application.
Quick Overview — Types of Application Deadlines
Not all college deadlines work the same way. Here's a simple breakdown before you dive into the table:
| Admission Type | Application Deadline | Decision Received |
|---|---|---|
| Early Action (EA) | October – November 2026 | December 2026 |
| Early Decision (ED) | October – November 2026 | December 2026 |
| Regular Decision (RD) | January – February 2027 | March – April 2027 |
| Rolling Admissions | Varies (until spots fill) | Within 4–6 weeks |
You can also check the complete list of Colleges with Rolling Admissions.
Admissions Deadlines for Finance & Accounting Colleges in the USA – 2026
| Logo | College | Deadline | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logo | College | Deadline | Acceptance |
|
|
Albany State University Albany, Georgia |
01 Nov 2026
Priority Deadline |
N/A
N/A
|
|
|
University of Portland Portland, Oregon |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
95.4%
Safety
|
|
|
Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision |
11.4%
Reach
|
|
|
Adelphi University Garden City, New York |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
77.5%
Safety
|
|
|
Linfield University McMinnville, Oregon |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision I |
87.9%
Safety
|
|
|
University of Rhode Island Kingston, Rhode Island |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision |
77.1%
Safety
|
|
|
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, Pennsylvania |
01 Nov 2026
Priority Freshman |
96.4%
Safety
|
|
|
Mercer University Macon, Georgia |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action I |
66.5%
Safety
|
|
|
Fordham University Bronx, New York |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision I |
56.3%
Safety
|
|
|
Fordham University Bronx, New York |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
56.3%
Safety
|
|
|
Bryant University Smithfield, Rhode Island |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision (binding) |
65.7%
Safety
|
|
|
Savannah State University Savannah, Georgia |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
N/A
N/A
|
|
|
Anderson University Anderson, South Carolina |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
52.8%
Safety
|
|
|
West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester, Pennsylvania |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
79.2%
Safety
|
|
|
Columbia College Columbia, South Carolina |
01 Nov 2026
International (Spring) |
95.8%
Safety
|
|
|
Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision |
67.7%
Safety
|
|
|
Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
67.7%
Safety
|
|
|
Bradley University Peoria, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
76.7%
Safety
|
|
|
Belmont University Nashville, Tennessee |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action I |
96.4%
Safety
|
|
|
Elmhurst University Elmhurst, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
75.7%
Safety
|
|
|
University of Rochester Rochester, New York |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision I |
35.9%
Match
|
|
|
University of Dallas Irving, Texas |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
54.2%
Safety
|
|
|
The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Knoxville, Tennessee |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
46%
Match
|
|
|
Illinois State University Normal, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Priority |
89%
Safety
|
|
|
Loyola University Chicago Chicago, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
81.4%
Safety
|
|
|
University of Tulsa Tulsa, Oklahoma |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
58%
Safety
|
|
|
Union University Jackson, Tennessee |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
47.2%
Match
|
|
|
Millikin University Decatur, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
54.1%
Safety
|
|
|
North Central College Naperville, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
58.3%
Safety
|
|
|
Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision |
7.2%
Reach
|
|
|
St. John Fisher University Rochester, New York |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision |
67.8%
Safety
|
|
|
Dominican University River Forest, Illinois |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
79.8%
Safety
|
|
|
University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, Texas |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
93.4%
Safety
|
|
|
LeTourneau University Longview, Texas |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
40.7%
Match
|
|
|
Ball State University Muncie, Indiana |
01 Nov 2026
Priority |
71.6%
Safety
|
|
|
University of Evansville Evansville, Indiana |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
77.7%
Safety
|
|
|
Huntington University Huntington, Indiana |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
71.2%
Safety
|
|
|
Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Indiana |
01 Nov 2026
Priority |
85.7%
Safety
|
|
|
Indiana University-Indianapolis Indianapolis, Indiana |
01 Nov 2026
Priority |
81.4%
Safety
|
|
|
Indiana University-Kokomo Kokomo, Indiana |
01 Nov 2026
Priority |
84.7%
Safety
|
|
|
Indiana University-South Bend South Bend, Indiana |
01 Nov 2026
Priority |
86%
Safety
|
|
|
Indiana University-Northwest Gary, Indiana |
01 Nov 2026
Priority |
76.7%
Safety
|
|
|
University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision I |
61.7%
Safety
|
|
|
Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, Ohio |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
28.7%
Match
|
|
|
Gustavus Adolphus College Saint Peter, Minnesota |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
61.8%
Safety
|
|
|
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Cincinnati, Ohio |
01 Nov 2026
Rolling |
N/A
N/A
|
|
|
Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
63.1%
Safety
|
|
|
Bethel University Saint Paul, Minnesota |
01 Nov 2026
Early Action |
91%
Safety
|
|
|
Grove City College Grove City, Pennsylvania |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision |
73.4%
Safety
|
|
|
Drexel University Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
01 Nov 2026
Early Decision I |
77.5%
Safety
|
Showing 576 colleges in Finance & Accounting
Understanding College Application Deadlines
Once you've looked through the table, here's everything you need to know about each type of deadline and how to choose the right one for you.
Early Action (EA)
Early Action lets you apply early — usually by November 1 or November 15 — and get your decision back by mid-December. The best part? It's non-binding. You're not committing to attend. You can still compare offers from other schools and take your time deciding until May 1 (National College Decision Day).
If you're a strong student with your application ready by October, Early Action is almost always worth it. Acceptance rates at EA tend to be slightly higher than Regular Decision, and you'll have peace of mind heading into the holidays.
One thing to watch for: you might get deferred rather than accepted or rejected. If that happens, your application moves to the Regular Decision pool. Stay in touch with the school and strengthen any weak parts of your application.
Early Decision (ED)
Early Decision works like Early Action in terms of timing — you apply by October or November and hear back in December. The key difference is that Early Decision is binding. If you get in, you must attend. You'll need to withdraw all other applications and submit an enrollment deposit.
This is a big commitment. Make sure you've visited the campus, researched the program thoroughly, and are 100% sure before choosing ED.
Another important point: with ED, you agree before seeing your financial aid offer. If you're depending on aid to afford tuition, think carefully. Some schools will work with you if the offer isn't enough, but it's not guaranteed. If cost matters significantly, Regular Decision gives you more flexibility to compare packages.
Some schools also offer Early Decision II, usually with a January deadline and a February decision — a good option if you missed the first ED round.
Regular Decision (RD)
Most students apply Regular Decision. Deadlines typically fall between January 1 and February 1, with admission decisions coming in March or April. You then have until May 1 to accept or decline.
Regular Decision gives you the most time to:
- Write and polish your essays
- Request and receive recommendation letters
- Retake the SAT or ACT if needed
- Compare multiple financial aid offers side by side
If your application isn't ready for an early deadline, don't rush it. A well-prepared Regular Decision application is stronger than a rushed Early Action one.
Rolling Admissions
Colleges with rolling admissions don't have a single fixed deadline. They review applications as they arrive and send decisions — usually within 4 to 6 weeks. Admission continues until all available spots are filled.
The practical advice here: apply early, even at rolling admissions schools. The later you apply, the fewer spots are left. Many rolling admissions schools open in September or October and can close by spring once the class is full.
Rolling admissions is also common for transfer students, online programs, and graduate-level programs for working professionals.
When Should You Start Your Application?
The answer is: earlier than you think.
For Fall 2027 admission, here's a simple timeline to follow:
- July–December 2025 — Research schools, shortlist programs, start standardized test prep (SAT, ACT, TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, or GMAT depending on your level)
- January–June 2026 — Take your first round of tests; begin drafting your personal statement and Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- July–September 2026 — Retake tests if needed; finalize essays, collect transcripts, request recommendation letters
- October–November 2026 — Submit Early Action or Early Decision applications
- December 2026–January 2027 — Submit Regular Decision applications; follow up to confirm receipt of all materials
For most students, starting 12 to 18 months before your intended enrollment date is the right approach — especially if you're applying to competitive programs or need to arrange financial aid.
Tips to Stay on Track
- Set personal deadlines 2–3 weeks ahead of official ones. Portal crashes and last-minute issues are common. Students who submit early reduce that risk entirely.
- Request recommendation letters by September — teachers and counselors get busy during fall term, and they need time to write a strong letter.
- Don't wait on the FAFSA. For 2026–27, the FAFSA opens October 1, 2025. Submit it as early as possible — many schools give financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Check each school individually. January 1 is the most common Regular Decision deadline, but schools like Tulane, Michigan, and others have different dates.
- Rolling admissions ≠ no urgency. Apply to rolling schools by October even if they officially accept applications through spring. Seats fill up fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do college applications open for Fall 2027?
Most US college applications, including the Common Application, open in August 2026 for students planning to start in Fall 2027.
What is the difference between Early Action and Early Decision?
Both have similar deadlines (October–November) and decisions (December), but Early Action is non-binding — you can still choose another school. Early Decision is binding — if accepted, you must enroll.
What if I miss the application deadline?
Contact the admissions office immediately. Some schools extend deadlines or accept late applications. You may also consider applying for the Spring intake or a rolling admissions school.
Is Early Decision better for getting accepted?
It can be — many schools show slightly higher acceptance rates for Early Decision applicants. But only apply ED if you're certain about the school and have considered the financial aid implications.
Do international students have the same deadlines?
Generally yes, but some schools have separate deadlines or earlier document submission requirements for international applicants. Always check each school's international admissions page.
Explore More
- Colleges with Rolling Admissions
- US College Acceptance Rates
- Average SAT Scores at US Colleges
- Test Optional Colleges
